Posts filtered on Category

Category: Weird Al Yankovic

Australian rapper Iggy Azalea was surprised at a concert when “Weird Al” Yankovic showed up backstage and asked for permission to release his parody of her. Azalea’s management hadn’t been returning …

Australian rapper Iggy Azalea was surprised at a concert when “Weird Al” Yankovic showed up backstage and asked for permission to release his parody of her.

Azalea’s management hadn’t been returning Yankovic’s calls about using his version of her track Fancy on his latest album Mandatory Fun, so the pop parodist decided to take matters into his own hands.

After checking Azalea’s tour schedule, the 54-year-old showed up unannounced backstage at Azalea’s concert in Denver, Colo., to try and secure permission to use the song before the deadline for the album passed.

Yankovic tells Australia’s Herald Sun newspaper, “I decided to fly down to Denver to see if I could ‘bump’ into her, talk to her and get her permission on the spot. As soon as she got offstage, I introduced myself, told her what I wanted to do and she said it all sounded fine.

“I didn’t really preface my conversation with who I am but she was certainly very nice and friendly. Although she did have the deer in the headlights look at first.”

Lady Gaga has given pop parody performer Weird Al Yankovic permission to use his version of her “Born This Way” on his new album after he posted the track online despite a ban from her management.

According to reports, Gaga insisted on reviewing the track, “Perform This Way,” before agreeing to let Yankovic add it to his upcoming album. He agreed but her people refused him permission.

Unperturbed, the singing comic posted the song on his blog and on YouTube.com.

Yankovic said, “My parodies have always fallen under what the courts call ‘fair use’, and this one was no different, legally allowing me to record and release it without permission. But it has always been my personal policy to get the consent of the original artist before including my parodies on any album, so of course I will respect Gaga’s wishes.

“However, given the circumstances, I have no problem with allowing people to hear it online, because I also have a personal policy not to completely waste my stinking time.

“So I uploaded the song to YouTube, and will be making free mp3 downloads available on weirdal.com shortly. Hope you enjoy it.”

Sources close to Lady Gaga insist she did not shut down Weird Al over the parody – in fact she had not heard the song.

And late on Wednesday, Gaga gave her blessing to Yankovic’s parody, according to the performer’s manager.

When Yankovic posted the track on YouTube.com on Wednesday morning, he asked fans to donate to the Human Rights Campaign, an organization that supports gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered causes.